Adjustable chairs



` Nov. 24, 1959 Filed Feb. 9, 195e s. FLETCHER ,A 2,914,112

ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Si za 72 76 5 29 7 l 23 0 705,0 J "l g- 5 76' I7 76 37 /gg 3?, 72s

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Uaid ,States Pareri@ Y2,914,112 ADJUSTABLE CHAIRS Peter Stewart Fletcher, `Boynton Beach, Fla., assignor to Anton Lorenz, Boynton Beach, Fla.V

d VApplication February 9, 1956, Serial No. 564,476

Claiins. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to adjustable chairs and particularly to those which have a leg rest that is moved from an 2 2 connected by frame members 3 and 4. Disposed on the support 1 between the side pieces 2 are a seat 5 and back rest 6, both of which are pivotally supported on a common pivot'rod 7 which is carried by the support. Thus,

the seat 5; at its rear edge, is pivotally supported on the' Y rod V7, and the back rest 6 is rockably mounted by the inactivepositionbeneath the seat into. a position in front Another objectof the invention is to provide an improved lazy tong linkage device Yfor adjustable chairs,

with which the leg rest may be elevated into leg-support-v ing position or lowere'dby 'extension or retraction of the lazy tong device select-ivelyasthe chairisladjusted be-v tweenitssitting and tilted positions, with which the linkage will be relatively compact, simple, effective, practical and inexpensive. Y

`A further objeet'of the invention is to provideanim- 1 proved and simple lazytong mountingpfor av leg rest of a reclining chair which not only will Vrnove the leg rest upwardly andV forwardly into effective position, but Ywill position it well infront of theseat so as to more comfortably support thelegs fof tall people.

Other objects.and.advantages will be apparent from the followingdescriptibn of several embodiments ofthe invention and the -novelgfeatures will `be particularly pointed; o ut Ahereinafter`in-corinection with the appended claimsgf".

IIn the accompanying drawings:

Fig.l'is a vertical, sectional elevation through a chair constructed in accordance withfthis invention, the section representing a. side elevation of the chair, with the side piece. towardtheobserver removed to show the linkage on the interior, of the chairat each side of the seat, the chair having its back rest and seat disposed in normal, sitting positions;

Eig, 2 isa similar sectional elevation, but with the parts adjustedintofthe -tilted ,positionsp t t Fig. 2a is=aschematic diagram illustrating the principle ofthe linkage which' isineorporated in the chair shown in Fi'gfsi. l and 2; j A l Fig.V 3 is a sectional elevation generally similar-to Fig. Lwbnt with theseatandpb'ack rest" formed into a unit, and

same rod 7, but extends slightly below the rod 7. An arm 8 depends from the lower end of the back rest 6 below the ypivot rod 7 and at its lower end it is pivotally connected vby apin 9 to one end` of an actuating link 10.

A leg rest 11is disposed between the side pieces 2 beneath the forward edge of the seat 5, and is supported at each end on a lazy tong device which is formed of four pairs of links at each side of the seat 5, which pairs are operatively interconnected with each other by three connections. v i

Links 12 and 13, which are hinged together at 14, comprise one of the fourpairs of links, and the link 12 is pivotally connected by a pin 15 to the support 1. Links 16 and- 17, which are hinged together at 18, comprise a p second pair of links at each side of the seat, and the link in sitting posttl` n, and with a modied form of lazy tong linkage that mountstheleg rest;

Fig. 4'isaview similar to-Fig. 3 but' with the parts in their` tilted positions; `l

"fig '4u` isfa schernatic-` diagram illustrating the linkage employedkin the chair shown in Figs 3 and 4;

Fig. 5 .is a view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating a stilldifferenttypeof 'linkage which supports the leg rest;

V'1Fig;isfagview similar to Fig. 5, but illustrating the parts 'in their tilted positions; and

Fig. 6a is 'a schematictdiagram illustrating the linkage which is incorporated in thechair shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

Infthe embodiment qf the invention illustrated in Figs. t

1 and 2, the chair includes a support 1 having side pieces 16'is` pivotally connected by a pin 19 to the support 1. Links 20 and *21, which are hinged together at 22, comprise another set of links at each side of the seat, and link 20 is pivotally connected by a pin 23 to the leg rest 11. i The link 21 is pivotally connected by a pin 24 to the link 13.` lLinks 25 and 26, -which are hingedly connected togetherlatV 27, form still another or fourth pair of links.

The link 25 is pivotally connected by pin 28 to the leg rest` l1 below the pivot 23', and the link 26 is connected at -its end opposite from endof the link 17.

Ihe links V20 and 26 are also pivotally connected together intermediate of their ends by a pivot pinY 30. The link 17 is pivotallyconnected by a pin 31 to the link 21 intermediate Aof the ends -ofthe latter. The link 12 extends beyond itshinge 14 and this extension 12E is pivotally jconnected by a pin32 to the link 17 between the hinge 18 and the pivot pin 31. This completes a lazy tong de vce having four quadrilaterals of links connected together.y in tandem, vwiththe leg rest 11 forming one end of this lazy tong device and the support 1 forming the other, end of this lazy tong device; and providing the supportfor lthe entire lazy tong` device.

.'Aglink 33 at one end is pivoted by pin 34 to the for-v` wardypartjof the seat 5, and at its other and lower end is pivotally connected by pin'35 t'o an end of the actuating link; 10, and the pivot pin 35 is also pivoted to the link 127., Thus, `when the back rest 6 is rocked on its pivot rod` 7Ifrom-its-sitting position, shown in Fig. 1,'to the tilted positionshown in Fig. 2, it willactuate the rod 10 endwise and movethe link 33 endwise to elevate the forward partpf` the seat S, and also rock the link 12 in' a direction to extend the lazy tong linkage and elevate the leg rest 9 intothe leg-supporting position shown in Fig. 2. Because of the Vfour quadrilaterals of linkage which constitute the lazy,tong.devi`ce at eachside of the seat 5, the leg rest, 11 willY be advancedto a maximum extent in front of theseat 5 -and` assume an approximately horizontaltposition, as shown in Fig..`2.

`When the back rest 6 is returned to its upright orY sittingpofsitiomthe actuating link 10 will retract the lazy tongplinkage andV return the leg rest 11 to a position below the forward edge of the seat 5, and also lower `the forward edge of the seat 5 into the position shown in Fig.

the: leg rest carried thereby a Vsubstantially long distance fromjthe, f orward edge of the seat, so that people with: Y longulegg can vhave adequateand comfortable support for:

the legs, The leg rest 10 is relatively small in size and the hinge 27 by pin 29 to an hence can be disposed relatively high from the floor when in a sitting position, and the entire linkage of the lazy tong device is disposed Well above the oor line so that the chair may have relatively high legs without the linkage mechanism showing below the support or frame of the chair. A small leg rest with a relatively long extension in front o f the seat when the chair is in a reclined position has been long desired by vdesigners and is desired also for comfort.

In the embodiment of the invention illustratedin Figs. 3 and 4, the back rest 6 and seat 5 are formed as a rigid unit, and this unit, at the bottom of the back rest portion, is pivotally supported at each side by a pin 36 on the upper end of a lever 37, one at each side of the seat, that is pivotally mounted on a common pivot rod 38carried by the support. The lower end of each lever 37 is pivotally connected by a pin 39 to one end of an actuating link 40, one at each side of the seat, which link 40 is connected by pin `41 to the lower end of a linkv 42 that is pivotally supported by pin 43 onthe support 1. The leg rest 11 is disposed below the forward edge of the seat when the seat is in its normal sitting position, and it is also supported from the support 1 by four pairs of interconnected links at each side of the seat 5. In this embodiment the forward part of the seat 5 is pivotally connected by apin 44 to the upper end of an upright link 45 whose lower end is pivoted by pin 46 on a lug 47 provided on a cross frame member 4 8 of the support. The link 45 is upwardly and forwardly inclined from the support when the seat 5 is in its normal, sitting position, but which moves into an upright position, preferably slightly past vertical, dead center position, when the seat is rocked into its tilted position.

The link 42, to which the link `40 was connected by pin 41, is also hinged by the pin 41 to another link 49,- so that the links 42 and 49 form one pair of; links at each side of the seat 5. Links 50 and 51, which are hinged together at 52, comprise a second pair of links at each side of the seat 5, and the link 50 is pivotally connected by pin 53 to the support 1. Links 54 and 55, which are hinged together at 56, form another pair of links at each side of the seat 5. TheA link 54 is pivotally connected by a pin 57 to leg rest 11, and the link 55 is pivotally connected by a pin 58 to an end of the link 49. -A link 59 and a link 60, which are hinged together at 61,form a fourth pair of links at each side of the seat 5. The link 59 is pivotally connected to the leg rest 11 by a pin 59a. The link 54 extends beyond its hinge 56 and this Yexten'- sion 54E is connected by a pin 62 to the link 60 intermediate of the ends of the latter. ly connected to the link 60 by pin 63. l

The link 51 is extended beyond its pivot 63 and that extension 51E is connected by pin 64a to link 55, intermediate of the ends of the latter. The links 49 and 50 are also pivotally connected together by pin 64. This completes a lazy tong arrangement at each side of the seat, of four quadrilaterals of linkage, and the lazy tong devices are connected to opposite ends of the leg rest 11 to support the latter and extend it upwardly and forwardly when the seat and back rest are moved into their normal, tilted positions. When the backrest and seat are tilted, by pushing them rearwardly from the sitting position shown in Fig. 3, this will rock the lever 37 into the position shown in Fig. 4, and thiswill move the actuating link 40 endwise, to the left in Fig. 3, which serves to extend the linkage of the lazy tongdevices and elevatey the leg rest 11 into the position shown in Fig. 4 in front of the forward edge of the seat 5. l

. At the same time the link 45 will moveV toward its upright position, just pastvtheveriical dead center position, which elevates the forward edge of the seat 5 and serves as a support for the forward edge 'o f the seat whilefthe rear part of the seat is supported on thepivot rod 38. To return the chair to its uprightposition fromfthe reclining position shown in Fig. 4, one merely pushes th'eback rest The link 51 is pivotaland seat forwardly, during which the forward edge of the seat is lowered by movement of the guiding link 45 into its inclined position, and the rear part of the seat is elevated by the lever 37 as the latter moves into its upright position and slightly past dead center position.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the seat -5 and back rest 6 are formed in a rigid unit, as in Figs. 3 and 4, and the leg rest 11 is disposed beneath the forward .edge of the seat 5 when the chair is in normal, sitting position. vThe bottom part of the back rest 6 is pivotally connected at each side by a pin 65 on the upper end of a lever 66, one at each side of the seat, which levers are pivoted on a common pivot rod 67 carried by the support. The lower endof the lever 66 is pivotally connected by a pin 68 to one end of an actuating link 69. Links 70 and 71, which are hinged together at 72, comprise one pair of links at each side of the seat S, and the link 7l) .is pivotally connected by pin 73 to the support 1. so as to depend therefrom. .Links 74 and 7 5, which are hinged together at 7 6, .comprise another pair of links at eachside of the seat 5. Link 74 is pivotally connected b y pin 74a tothe support 1. Links 77. and 78, which are hinged together at 79, form still another pair of links at each side of the seat.

Links 8 0 and 81, which are hinged together at.82, form a fourth, pair of links at each side of the seat 5. Link is pivotally connected to leg rest 11 by a pivot pin and link 77 is pivotally connected yto leg rest 11 by pivot pin 177. The link 81 is extended beyond its hinge 82 and the extensionSlE ispivotally connected by a pin 83 to the link 77, intermediate theends of the latter and this link 81 is also hinged by pin 100 to an end of link 75. .The link 71 ishinged `by pin 84 to an end of link 78, andextended beyond thepin 84 where the extension 71E is pivotally connected by a pin 85 to link 81V, which serves as a pivotalr connection between it and link 81. The link 74 extends beyond its hinge 76 and the extension 74E is pivotally rconnected by a pin86 to a link` 71 between the hinge 72 and the pivot pin 84. This, therefore, completes a lazy tong device ateach side of the seat( carried by the support 1 and mounting the l eg, restv 11 formed of four sets of quadrilateral linkages which areV interconnected to form the lazy tong device.'.

The actuating link 69 at an end thereof is pivotally connected to link 74 bythe hinge 76, so that when the seat 5 and back rest 6 are moved rearwardly from the Fig. 5 position to the Fig. 6 position, the lever 66 will be rocked clockwise in Fig. 5, which will push link 69 tothe lef-t and rock the link 74 clockwise in Fig.v 5. `This causes an extension of the related lazy tongdevice that advances and elevates the leg rest 11V. The forward part of the seat has a depending lug`87 which is pivotally connected by a pin 88 to the upper end of a link 89 whose ,lower en d is pivoted by pin 91 to a lug 92 on a frame member of the support 1. When the seat and back rest move rearwardly into the Fig. 6 position, the link 89, which was normally inclined upwardly and forwardly `in the sittingl position of the chair, movesinto an upright position' and slightly past .,i vertical, dead center position, to elevate the forward edge of the seat 5 at the same time that the rear part ofthe seat S'and lower part of theback rest6 move downwardly and rearwardly, due to rocking ofthe lever 66. This positions vtheiseat and back rest in tilted positions at the same time that the lazy tongdevice at each'side of the seat advances and elevat'es the leg rest 11. f, A

When the seat and back restare returned to thesitting positions of Fig. 5, by moving them forwardlyfrom the Fig. 6 position, `the pin.65 on thel bottom of the back rest will. move past vertical, dead ,center position above. the

pivot `rod 67 and at the same ytime they guiding link 89will lower the forward part of theseat rest.5. Atlthelsame time the rocking of the lever 66 will return link 69 to its Fig. 5 position during which it retracts the linkage of the lazy tong device and returns the leg rest 1 1 to its normal,

inactive position below the forward end of the seat 5, as shown in Fig. 5.

It will be observed that in all embodiments of the invention, there is a lazy tong linkage at each side of the seat 5, and each lazy tong device is connected to the leg rest 11, one device on each end thereof, so that the leg rest will be firmly supported throughout its movements between the sitting and tilted positions. Suitable stops, not shown, may be added to limit the movements of the seat and back rest.

In all of the illustrated embodiments of the invention, it will be noted that there .are two links at each side of the chair, pivoted to the support at levels well above the lower face of the seat and depending approximately vertically therefrom in front and rear spaced, in generally parallel relation, and that such two depending links -are pivotally connected to a coupling link, which is 17 in Figs. 1, 2 and 2a, 49 in Figs. 3, 4 and 4a, and 71 in Figs. 5, 6 and 6a. This coupling link extends forwardly and is coupled to some lazy tong linkage that mounts the leg rest. In Figs. 1, 2 and 2a these depending links 12 and 16 extend near to, but terminate above, the lower face of the support, and the support is mounted well above the oor by depending legs to provide a substantial space between the support and the floor, which space is not occupied by the linkage that operates the leg rest.

It will be understood that various changes in the details and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An ladjustable chair of the type having a support with relatively high legs depending from its lower face to provide a space of substantial height between the floor and the support, a seat and a back mounted on said support for movement between sitting and reclining positions, a leg rest normally disposed beneath the forward part of the seat and above the lower level of said support, said chair also having at each side thereof two links pivoted to said support at about the same level and well above the lower edge of the seat, and spaced apart forwardly and rearwardly of one another between the front and rear limits of said seat, said links depending from their pivoted connections to said support in a generally parallel and vertical relation, a coupling link pivotally connecting the lower ends of said two links and extending forwardly of the foremost of said two links, one pair of links pivoted together with one link of the pair pivoted to a leg rest and the other link of that pair pivoted to the forward end of said coupling link, another pair of links pivoted together and having one of the links of that pair pivoted to said leg rest and the other link of that another pair pivoted to one 'end of a third link, the other end of said third link being pivoted to the forward said depending link at a point spaced from the connection of said forward depending link to said coupling link, and means connecting said back rest to one of said depending links for swinging said depending link forwardly and causing an elevation and advance of said leg rest when the back rest is moved into its reclining position.

2. The chair as set forth in claim l, and link means articulately connected to the forward part of said seat and to one of said depending links, whereby when the back rest moves into its reclining position and causes a forward actuation of said depending links, the forward part of said seat will be elevated.

3. The chair as set forth in claim 1, wherein said depending links extend downwardly to proximity to but terminate above the lower face of said support, and said connecting means from the back rest to one of said depending links is articulately connected to that depending link intermediate of the pivotal connection of that depending link to said support and the connection of that same link to said coupling link.

4. The chair as set forth in claim l, wherein said other link of said one pair is also pivotally connected to a link of said another pair of links.

5. The chair as set forth in claim 1, wherein said other link of said one pair crosses and is pivoted to that link of said another pair which is connected to the leg rest.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 195,395 Pope Sept. 18, 1877 2,693,845 Hoffman Nov. 9, 1954 2,750,988 Luckhardt June 19, 1956 

